From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The failure of the charging system in a Phantom III vehicle and proposed modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0229 | |
| Date | 23th November 1937 | |
| Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}17/HR.23.11.37. AmQ HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 24 1937 BY c to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 361 CHILDS re OWNER'S COMPLAINT REPORT NO. W.80. Failure of Charging System. Phantom III. What do you say to last paragraph Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Arising out of the above complaint of failure of the charging system we wish to point out how serious this is when it occurs at night as is often the case. We are carrying out a modification in accordance with Depot Sheet No. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}360, as and when cars become available at Depots. We consider, however, that further steps should be taken if this is possible, to reduce the chances of it happening on cars in service, because now that the charging system is being worked to capacity during the Winter, there is more possibility of the trouble occurring due to heating up of the resistance unit which causes the insulation on the wire to become burnt. We have satisfied ourselves on a number of cars in this Department, that the feed wire can be prised away from the metal brackets to give at least 1/16" clearance. The wire itself is so stiff that it will remain in this position. The act of re-fitting the lid{A. J. Lidsey} does not disturb the wire because there is a Bakelite ledge which locates the cover. This is so easy to do and the modification is so important that we recommend that everyone who comes in contact with Phantom III cars away from Derby should do this at every opportunity. If you consider that it is still necessary to pack out the resistance unit and fit the Leatheroid strip in accordance with the Depot Sheet No. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}360, this could be done later on when the cars come into Depots. -continued- | ||